Beer Can Chicken Recipe | Smoking Chicken With Beer (2024)

How to Smoke Beer Can Chicken
There is no surprise why this is one of our most popular smoking recipes. This is one of those recipes that actually gives you an excuse to drink beer. Beer can chicken is an American classic dish that as about as much aesthetic appeal as smoking chicken can get. Sometimes called, "Beer butt chicken", this simple beer can chicken recipe will walk you through the step by step directions from ingredients and how to prep the bird to setting up your grill or smoker for indirect grilling. You will be surprised at how easy this dish is to make even if you have not smoked a lot of meats. Feel free to swap out our recommended chicken rub ingredients with your own rub or even a chicken rub that you buy off the shelves of your local grocery store.

Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipe Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 1 16 ounce can of your favorite beer (drink half)
  • 1 beer can chicken stand (optional)
  • 1 meat injector


Smoked Beer Can Chicken Rub Seasoning Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable, olive, or canola)
  • 1/4 cup coarse salt
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper


Other Smoking Recipe Ingredients

  • 1 bag of charcoal
  • 1 bottle of lighter fluid or a charcoal chimney starter
  • 1 or 2 bags of wood chips of your choice
  • Aluminum foil

Beer Can Chicken Recipe | Smoking Chicken With Beer (2)

Smoked Beer Can Chicken Recipe Directions

  1. Soak some wood chips of your choice in water for a couple hours. This will prevent them from flaring up and make them last longer while you are cooking your beer can chicken.
  2. Since your beer can chicken will be standing up, prepare your smoker or grill for indirect heat. If you simply put your charcoal or gas burners right under your chicken, the bottom of the chicken will be burned and the top will still be raw. By setting it up for indirect smoking, you put the coals or burners on both sides of the grill, leaving the middle open so your beer can chicken is cooked evenly from the residual heat throughout the entire grill.
  3. Remove neck and giblets from cavity of chicken, if your chicken came with them. Mix all of the rub seasoning ingredients together and rub them all over the chicken inside and out.
  4. Drink half your 16 ounce can of beer and then take the top lid of the can off by using a can opener or punch extra holes in the lid to allow the beer steam to rise and season the beer can chicken. Lower the bottom open cavity of the chicken on the beer can so it is standing straight up. You can also purchase a beer can chicken rack like the one shown on the right that will add stability and make sure your chicken doesn't fall down during the smoking process. Place the chicken on the cool side of the grill, so it is indirectly grilled through the residual heat of the smoker.
  5. The next step is to cover your smoker and walk away. After about an hour, you can check your chicken and lightly baste some extra beer on the outside skin. You want to make sure your temperature is holding steady and smoker chips are still smoking to flavor the chicken. Insert an instant read meat thermometer into the deepest part of the chicken breast. Your chicken will be done when it reaches 160°F - 165°F. The total cooking time will vary depending on the size ofyour chicken, and the internal temperature of the smoker grill. Keep checking the temperature over the next
  6. When your chicken is done, transfer it to a large tray. Make sure you are using oven gloves because your hot beer may spill on your hands while removing it from the smoker. Let the chicken rest for at least 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.If you cut into meat straight off the grill it will be more tough because the juice molecules don't have time to move back into the outsides meat.

Smoked Beer Can Chicken Smoking Time
A 4 pound (lb) chicken will usually take around 2 hours or more to smoke. If you don't have a meat thermometer, a way to tell if the chicken is done is to poke it deeply with a knife, if the juices run clear and not pink, the chicken is done. We always recommend using a meat thermometer in conjunction with our meat temperature chart to make sure you remove all meats from the smoker at the prefect temperature.

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Beer Can Chicken Recipe | Smoking Chicken With Beer (2024)

FAQs

What is the best liquid to use for beer can chicken? ›

Fill it halfway with chicken stock, wine, or any mix of liquid and herbs and spices. You might try also try using a combination of a healthy scoop of our Beer-Can Chicken Rub and a bit of water or wine, which will enhance the flavor of the rub you've already put on the bird's flesh.

How do you get beer can chicken to stand up? ›

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle it inside and out with the spice mixture. Prop the chicken on the beer can. Place the beer can inside a metal 9x13-inch baking pan. Lower the chicken leg-side down onto the beer until it is securely propped upright.

How long does it take to cook beer can chicken at 225 degrees? ›

Apply rub to chickens and mount them on the beer cans. Cook at 225-250°F for 2 hours, rotate 180°, and baste with apple juice. Cook for another 1-1/2 to 2 hours until 160-165°F in the breast, 170-175°F in the thigh. Carefully remove from the WSM and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

What brand of beer is best to cook with? ›

Cleansing Flavors
ItemTypes of beerTry this
Pulled pork (for spicy pulled pork dishes)Honey AlePizza Port California Honey Ale
Beef burgers (high-fat content)Pale AleDuck Foot Old Bro Hazy Pale Ale
Beef burgers (lean)PilsnerFremont Golden Pilsner
Vegetarian burgers (grilled vegetables)Wheat beersMaui Pineapple Mana Wheat
9 more rows
Jul 4, 2022

What kind of beer is best for beer batter chicken? ›

Most are fair game for beer batter (Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Modelo, and Firestone Pivo Pils are particularly nice), with the exception of Bohemian pilsner, which comes with a heavy dose of spices that can change the overall flavor of your dish. In a beer batter, pilsner is one of the more low-key options.

Does the liquid matter in beer can chicken? ›

Did it affect the chicken? One of the reasons to do this cook is to get beer-infused chicken that is extra juicy from the liquid that is cooked off into it. Unfortunately, the data just doesn't support that.

Can you use soda instead of beer for beer can chicken? ›

This time around I took a cue from Steven Raichlen and tried it out with cola, Dr Pepper (my favorite cola) to be exact, which resulted in a subtly sweet and spicy bird that easily held its own against those made with beer.

How do you make chicken stronger? ›

Maintain a good food source. Consider adding calcium and mineral-rich additives such as oyster shell grit or diatomaceous earth to grains. This will not only enrich the diet of the chickens, but added calcium will also help produce strong eggs.

Can you use IPA for beer can chicken? ›

Craft beer can chicken is one of the simplest recipes I know and it packs a lot of flavor, especially if you are using a floral IPA. This isn't your typical dry, bland chicken breast! The flavor of the beer enhances the spice rub, leaving you with a tender, moist bird with perfectly crisp skin.

What beer is best for beer can chicken? ›

The best beer for beer can chicken is a light and crisp lager. Avoid beers that are overly hoppy or sweet. Lagers are widely used and a popular choice for beer can chicken. Beer can chicken is one of those “secret” recipes we keep up our sleeves for whenever we have a large amount of people to feed.

What is the best temperature to cook poultry at so it does not get tough and dry? ›

Fattier dark meat can stand a higher temperature than lean white meat. While it's safe to eat dark meat cooked to 165°, you'll get a bouncier bite. Allowing thigh meat and the like to reach somewhere between 175° and 190° will give you more tender meat because the connective tissues have longer to break down.

What kind of beer do you use to make fried chicken? ›

When the chicken gets spicy, like in Korean fried chicken, a hoppy IPA can intensify the chile heat. If you'd rather cool the fire, look for a more malty beer like a brown ale or porter.

Can I use IPA for beer can chicken? ›

Craft beer can chicken is one of the simplest recipes I know and it packs a lot of flavor, especially if you are using a floral IPA. This isn't your typical dry, bland chicken breast! The flavor of the beer enhances the spice rub, leaving you with a tender, moist bird with perfectly crisp skin.

What is a good beer for meat? ›

For a robust meat, such as beef, lamb or venison, go with an equally robust, full-bodied brew—stout, porter, or a dark ale. For more delicately flavored or lighter foods, like poultry, pork and seafood, opt for something less full-bodied.

What beer is best for smoking chicken? ›

The best beers for beer can chicken - Choose one that is not too hoppy, sour, or dark. A lager is always a good choice, as are malty and German-style beers.

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